The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 865: One East, One West, Two Americas
Summer 1874, San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Strait.

Luo Xinhua and Luo Zhongtian, the captain of the Flying Fish, stood side by side on the deck of the Flying Fish cruiser, with the cool sea breeze blowing in their faces. In the distance, on both sides of the Kinmen Strait, two gray-black artillery batteries were like dormant beasts, with their gun barrels pointed grimly at the sea, firmly locking the entrance to the strait.

"Those are the 'Tiger's Mouth' and 'Dragon' Mouth' turrets," Luo Zhongtian said, pointing at the gorge. "Each of them is equipped with eight 200mm breech-loading guns made by the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and their range covers the entire waterway."

Luo Xinhua raised his telescope and saw a circular trench dug around the fort. Militiamen in dark blue uniforms were transporting shells on rail cars. The gun barrels glowed cold and hard blue-gray in the morning light, and sandbags were piled around the gun mounts, apparently to prevent shelling from enemy ships.

"Last year, the USS Boston cruiser on the East Coast tried to force its way in, but was hit by three shells and fled with a trail of black smoke." Luo Zhongtian is the eldest son of Luo Dagang, the admiral of the North American Army in his early years. One of his brothers is now the commander of the California Naval Militia and is very well-informed about news in the Western United States. Even Luo Xinhua had never heard of what was being talked about.

"What? The California Navy Militia's artillery opened fire on the Union Navy's USS Boston?" he asked in surprise, "Isn't the young king afraid of a civil war?"

Luo Zhongtian chuckled: "It is because he is not afraid that he can hold the position of the commander of the California militia - don't think that this is the head of the state militia, he is actually the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces of the twelve western states of the United States!"

Luo Xinhua nodded slightly and thought: This young superstar probably doesn't want to be the president of the United States, but the little superstar of Western America, right?

The Flying Fish had already sailed into San Francisco Bay and appeared north of a military port. Luo Xinhua saw a huge warship slowly turning its guns. The two twin 200mm main turrets on the bow were like a steel fortress, and the eight 8mm rapid-fire gun barrels on the side were like a forest. The sailors used cables to lift coal bags, and the gray smoke from the boiler chimney formed a smoke column above the ironclad ship.

"They call it the 'California'." Luo Zhongtian added, "It is the fourth ship of our Zhenyuan class. The California militia bought it from the Jiangnan Factory at a high price of 180 million silver dollars. There is news that they are going to build it themselves..."

Luo Xinhua looked in the direction Luo Zhongtian pointed. In the distance, the two 10,000-ton docks of the San Francisco Shipyard were wrapped tightly in thick oilcloth. The sound of metal collision came from behind the curtain, with a rhythm like a heartbeat.

The "Zhenyuan" class mentioned by Luo Zhongtian is actually the second generation of the "Three Yuan Ships". The first generation of the "Three Yuan Ships" were all old 2000-ton steam gunboats purchased by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom from Britain in the early years. They were all without armor and had long become training ships. Later, they were simply decommissioned.

The second generation of "three long-range ships" was developed at the same time as the "Exocet" class. However, compared with the "Exocet" class, the second generation of "three long-range ships" is much easier. The standard displacement is 7200 tons, three twin 200mm/L35 guns, two 2500 horsepower twin expansion engines plus eight coal-fired boilers, the maximum speed is 14 knots, the endurance is only 1500 nautical miles/10 knots, the armor is 300mm main belt/350mm turret front/80mm deck. It is a tough, thick-skinned, short-legged gun. Don't even think about the open sea, but it is quite useful for near-shore defense.

"Twelve 200mm gun barrels were shipped in last month." Luo Zhongtian lowered his voice, "General Manager Wei of the Jiangnan Cannon Factory personally escorted the goods."

Luo Xinhua frowned slightly: "Where did they get the shipbuilding technology?"

Luo Zhongtian grinned: "They have money, and money makes the world go round. I heard they poached engineers from the UK and technicians from the eastern United States."

Luo Xinhua was silent for a moment, then asked, "How many ships are they going to build?"

"Two." The captain held up two fingers. "One is called 'Nevada' and the other is called 'Colorado'."

Luo Xinhua took a deep breath. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Navy had only three "Zhenyuan-class" ironclad ships, which were used to defend the Yangtze River Estuary, the Pearl River Estuary and the Ryukyu Kingdom. Unexpectedly, the California Navy Militia was not satisfied with just one ship, and was actually preparing to build two more ships...

What is this for? A war between the East and the West?
When the bronze bell of the True Testament Cathedral struck nine times, Hong Daquan was standing on a high place wearing his bishop's red robe, overlooking the entire San Francisco Bay, his eyes fixed on the dock covered with tarpaulin in the distance.

"Did you see that?" Hong Daquan's voice was low and hoarse. "Once the two 'Zhenyuan-class' ships are launched, we will have three floating artillery platforms."

Standing behind him, Hong Tiangui held his saber and nodded slightly. The California militia commander-in-chief had dragon patterns on his shoulder straps, and his cheeks were carved into hard lines by the sea breeze. The 26-year-old young king looked very calm and had the demeanor of an elder.

"The railway in the east has been built to Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma." Hong Tiangui spoke slowly, his voice low but powerful, "British engineers drove tens of thousands of Japanese workers to work overtime every day at the Nicaragua Canal construction site. According to the latest assessment, the Nicaragua Canal will be completed in 1882."

A hint of coldness flashed across Hong Daquan's eyes: "In 1882..." His sigh blended into the sea breeze, "On the day the canal is open to navigation, the battleships of the Royal Navy will pass through the canal into the Pacific Ocean."

The two looked toward the bay in silence. The "harmonious scene" of the Twelve States Alliance unfolded in Hong Tiangui's mind - the white Mormons in Utah and the Chinese miners in Nevada had conflicts from time to time; the black master under Zhao Si used whips to rule the black serfs in Colorado; and the Mongolian American cavalry under Amur Buddha had gun battles with the white cowboys who infiltrated Montana and Western Dakota every day.

"Eastern newspapers say we are the 'yellow peril den.'" Hong Tiangui sneered, his tone full of disdain, "But without our gold, who can Grant sell his bonds to?"

The Twelve Western States have a delicate position in the domestic politics of the United States today. On the one hand, they are obviously at odds with the Federation! On the other hand, neither they nor the Federation want to go to war - the eight-year civil war has exhausted the Federation, and the Chinese in California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada are actually unwilling to fight. They live a comfortable life, and who doesn't want to live a few more years?

Therefore, although the federal government is unwilling to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act, it recognizes the federal senators and representatives elected by the twelve states! When electing the president, the electoral votes of the twelve states are also recognized, and even the Republican and Democratic primaries invite representatives from the twelve western states. In the twelve western states, the California militia navy fired artillery to bombard federal warships that attempted to "invade" San Francisco Bay, but at the same time, the California banking consortium bought a large amount of U.S. Treasury bonds (of course, bearer) to support Grant's government.
Hong Daquan saw the "Flying Fish" and "Kunshan" that had already landed, and said with a smile: "The little King Wu has arrived at the Young Heavenly King, you must build a good relationship with him."

Hong Tiangui nodded: "Uncle Jiu...is the food ready?"

Hong Daquan nodded and said with a smile: "Six hundred thousand tons, to be collected after the autumn harvest."

Hong Tiangui looked at the "Flying Fish" in the distance, his eyes deep: "The little King Wu came this time to ensure that the food in the western United States can be transported back to Tianjing."

Hong Daquan sneered: "The British might cause some trouble."

Hong Tiangui sneered: "Then let them try."

The stained glass windows in the church's inner hall split the altar into red, yellow and blue spots. As soon as Luo Xinhua stepped into the door, Hong Tiangui strode over and grabbed his arm.

"Brother Luo!" Hong Tiangui's voice was loud and enthusiastic, his palms were broad and strong, "Thank you for your hard work along the way!"

Luo Xinhua was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "You are too polite, Young Heavenly King."

"It's too much of a stretch for Young Heavenly King," Hong Tiangui said with a smile, "I'm a few years older than you, why don't we just call each other brothers?"

"Brother Hong." Luo Xinhua immediately changed his address.

Hong Tiangui pulled him toward the altar, asking as he walked, "Why did Uncle Jiu send you here? Oil, wheat, beef. How many ships does Tianjing need?"

Luo Xinhua handed over the list: "600,000 tons of wheat, to be collected after the autumn harvest."

Hong Tiangui took the list, glanced at it, and then laughed loudly: "Okay! I will supervise it myself!"

Luo Xinhua caught a glimpse of the huge map of America behind the altar - the Nicaragua Canal marked with a red line ran across Central America like a scar.

Hong Daquan's staff suddenly knocked against the floor tiles: "The British are urging the Japanese workers to work overtime." A sneer appeared on his chubby face, "But no matter how much overtime they work, it will still take seven or eight years. Before that, the East and West of the United States are still one family! After that."

Luo Xinhua's pupils suddenly contracted.

He understood that after this - a world war could happen at any time!
Hong Tiangui opened the wine cabinet, took out three glasses, filled them with California wine, and handed one to Luo Xinhua: "Brother Luo, have a drink!"

Luo Xinhua took the wine glass, and Hong Tiangui gave another glass to Hong Daquan, then raised the glass high and spoke in a loud voice like a bell:
"Tell Uncle Jiu that with me, Hong Tiangui, here, the twelve western states of the United States are as solid as a rock!"

After saying this, he drank the wine in the glass.

"And when King Yang Dong arrives at the foot of Tianjing—" Hong Tiangui's eyes were like torches, and his tone was firm, "I will also arrive in Tianjing with the 60 tons of wheat to deliver grain to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Farmers' Association!"

Luo Xinhua's heart was shocked, and the wine glass trembled slightly in his hand.

Hong Tiangui is going to use 60 tons of life-saving food to express his support to Luo Yaoguo!
Hong Tiangui patted his shoulder, smiling broadly and firmly: "Don't worry, Brother Luo. I, Hong Tiangui, always keep my word."

Luo Xinhua took a deep breath and said, "My father will never ignore the twelve western states of the United States!" After that, he also raised his glass and drank it all.

Hong Daquan laughed loudly: "Great! After the next 'East-West War' is over, there will be two Americas in the world! As he said this, he also drank the wine in the glass.

At this moment, the roar of the "California" main gun test firing came from the bay, as if announcing to the white Americans in the east that war was inevitable in the future!
(End of this chapter)